BIG FROG 104'S HOT NEWZ FROM NASHVILLE

September 14, 2010 » Making Noise With A Southern Voice: Country was the hot ticket this weekend: Tim McGraw played the Big House in Dallas Friday (9/10), while on Saturday Trace Adkins and Toby Keith offered a Sept. 11 salute in our nation's capital, and George Strait, Reba and Lee Ann Womack brought traditional country glitz to Music City. According to the Dallas Morning News, McGraw's headlining set in front of 37,000 fans was part of the XLV Countdown Live From Cowboys Stadium, which is the region's buildup to the upcoming Super Bowl. McGraw's "opening acts" included Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and the Texas-sized University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra. The latter also backed McGraw on the closer "Live Like You Were Dying." No word on if reality-star Smith was seen dancing along. Our concert correspondent couldn't resist pointing out, "It's too bad the Cowboys didn't perform as well Sunday (9/12) as Tim did two nights before!" Meanwhile in Redskins land, the Washington Post reports Trace Adkins and Toby Keith closed Saturday's (9/11) Bristow, VA concert by inviting several veterans onstage to bask in an emotional arena-sized ovation. Back in Nashville, Strait, Reba and Womack delivered hit after hit with spot-on showmanship, and Ronnie Dunn surprised the audience to sing "Cowgirls Don't Cry" with Reba. Read the full review here. » Yes, Ma'am. What's The Question? When a country music icon like Loretta Lynn calls, the stars answer. At least, that's what the track list to the upcoming tribute album reveals. Lynn is celebrating 50 years in music with the Nov. 9 release Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn, which features today's biggest names covering her biggest songs. Released exclusively to us Monday night (9/13), here's the list: "Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)" — Gretchen Wilson "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl" — Lee Ann Womack "Rated X" — The White Stripes "You're Lookin' At Country" — Carrie Underwood "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" — Alan Jackson and Martina McBride "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" — Paramore "Love Is The Foundation" — Faith Hill "After The Fire Is Gone" — Steve Earle and Allison Moorer "If You're Not Gone Too Long" — Reba "I Know How" — Kid Rock "Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)" — Lucinda Williams "Coal Miner's Daughter" — Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert » No Shirt, No Shoes, No Waiting: Kenny Chesney is giving fans a preview of his Sept. 28 release Hemingway's Whiskey. "Reality" is on People.com and a live version of "Coastal" from CMT's Sept. 27 Invitation Only is available here. "I take pride in the fact that when people come to our show they know we give our best every night," Chesney says of the concept behind "Reality." "They're just enjoying the moment with a lot of people, and having fun ... That's where I got the idea." » Extended Prayers: The three-and-a-half-minute Garth Brooks classic "Unanswered Prayers" is being extended into a two-hour Lifetime movie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the made-for-TV film follows a happily married man who is faced with a tough decision when his old high school flame comes back to town. "Garth is one of the greatest American storytellers ever, and we couldn't be more excited to be working with him on adapting 'Unanswered Prayers' into a major original movie," Lifetime's Tanya Lopez says. Unanswered Prayers will premiere in November. Read the full article here. » Kicking Butt And Lending Names: Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Kris Kristofferson and Martina McBride used their celebrity to raise awareness for cancer prevention over the weekend through the American Cancer Society and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), respectively. Urban filmed an acoustic version of "Happy Birthday," which is featured in an ecard series for the Society's More Birthdays campaign (watch here). "I love the spirit of the American Cancer Society's ... campaign because it celebrates life," Urban says. "The marking of time, especially when spent with family and friends on that special day, helps to remind us of the little things that are most important to all of our lives." Lady A and Kristofferson kicked off a night of star-studded performances with "I Run To You" and "Help Me Make It Through The Night" (watch here) during Friday's (9/10) multi-network SU2C telethon. McBride closed the program in a multi-artist Stevie Wonder-led performance of the show's anthem "Stand Up To Cancer" (viewable here). Watch the entire SU2C on-demand and make an online donation here. » Gaga For Gstaad: Craig Morgan, Miranda Lambert and Patty Loveless are back stateside after headlining a two-night stand during Country Night in Gstaad, Switzerland over the weekend. "This is one of the largest international concerts of the year," Morgan says of the 22-year-old event. "[It's] just an unbelievably beautiful place with a lot of country music fans, so it's a great opportunity for us to expand our international audience."  » In Case You Missed It: One year, Lady Gaga's meat dress and several Moon Men later, the MTV Video Music Awards finally completed the second act in the Taylor Swift-Kanye West drama. A video montage recapping Kanye's stage interruption opened a surprise Swift performance, as she premiered "Innocent" from her upcoming album Speak Now. "Thirty-two and still growing up now/Who you are is not what you did/You're still an innocent," Swift sang, clearly with West in mind. Watch here. »Hit List Carrie Underwood is the October cover girl for Women's Health magazine. Inside she shares her plan to score quality time with her hockey-playing hubby Mike Fisher. "I love going to games, cheering for my man," she says. "When I come home, I'm accused of picking up the [Canadian] accent." The official website for the Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow movie Country Strong is up and running. Register for updates and watch the trailer here. Alan Jackson is going out on a fall tour with Chris Young and The Band Perry beginning Nov. 4 in Sacramento. Full schedule here. Darius Rucker is offering a chance to win a grand-prize trip or two to Hawaii through the End Zone Obsession Football Challenge. The entrants who do the best job picking each week's NFL winners will be eligible for the vacation and other swag. Learn more here. Birthdays Danielle Peck (9/14) The late Roy Acuff (9/14) The late Hank Williams (9/17) On TV Tuesday (9/14): Trace Adkins, Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC); The Judds, Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated). Wednesday (9/15): Trace Adkins, Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC). Thursday (9/16): Kenny Chesney, Boys Of Fall (re-air) (ESPN2). Friday (9/17): Zac Brown Band, Pass The Jar: Zac Brown Band And Friends (re-air) (GAC). In Stores Tuesday (9/14) Jamey Johnson The Guitar Song Johnson packs the single "Playing The Part" and several prominent covers including Keith Whitley's "Lonely At The Top," Hank Cochran's "Set 'Em Up Joe," Mel Tillis' "Mental Revenge" and Kris Kristofferson's "For The Good Times" on his black-and-white double album. Bill Anderson guests on the title track, and Kate and Kacey Coppola guest on "Macon." Randy Houser and Mac McAnally also appear. "That's Why I Write Songs" was recorded at the Ryman Auditorium. Johnson wrote and co-wrote 20 of 25 tracks with writers including James Otto and Bobby Bare. The three-LP vinyl set will be available Sept. 21. Buy here. James Otto Shake What God Gave Ya Ronnie Milsap guests on the closer of Otto's third soulful country release, which also includes the singles "Groovy Little Summer Song" and "Soldiers & Jesus." Otto co-wrote 11 of the 12 tracks. Otto co-produced. Purchase here.     Joey+Rory Album Number Two Mr. and Mrs. Rory Feek's second studio album features the Zac Brown Band on the lead single and disc closer "This Song's For You." The pair co-wrote two of the collection's 12 tracks, and Rory Feek co-wrote eight with writers including the duo's oldest daughter Heidi Feek and others. Buy here.   Savannah Jack Savannah Jack Single "I Know" kicks off Don Gatlin, Jay Darby and Mike Ulvila's 12-track debut. Vince Gill guests on "The Apple." Gatlin and Ulvila wrote and co-wrote nine songs, and the trio produced. Download here. » You Gonna Eat That? Rascal Flatts enjoy a s'more with baby Buckeye Ben Richardson while tailgating before the Ohio State University v. University of Miami game in Columbus Saturday (9/11). The trio was on-hand to pass out treats to tailgaters and sing the National Anthem prior to kickoff. The Buckeyes beat the Hurricanes 36-24. » Sugar Rush Hour: Sugarland bring their sweet stuff to Friday's (9/10) Today show. The duo discussed their upcoming album The Incredible Machine (out Oct. 19) and performed "Stuck Like Glue," "All I Want To Do" and the Sunday Night Football theme "All Day For Sunday Night." Watch the appearance here. © 2010 LH Publications, LLC